2022 Annual Report
WARRIORS & QUIET WATERs
a letter from the
ceo + Board chair
Do more, for more. This was the mandate from our Board of Directors in 2020 — increase WQW’s impact on the needs of post-9/11 Combat Veterans. With your support, we did just that in 2022. It was our most productive and impactful year yet. Not only did we deliver more Warrior programs and serve more participants in a single year than ever before, but we also accomplished the hard work needed to position WQW for even more impact in 2023.
We delivered 30 weeks of veteran and military family programming —a 157 percent increase in programs since 2019. We provided 256 participant experiences – 185 percent more participant experiences than in 2019. We also launched two new, high-impact program models – Hunt for Purpose (HFP) and the Backcountry Fishing Experience. A fitting example of the impact of these programs is captured in the following testimonial from the spouse of one of our HFP participants:
growing impact
“I was afraid of this past year. I didn’t know what my husband needed, but I knew my love and care wouldn’t be enough for the path ahead…It was a year of uncertainty, where his identity and purpose in life would be pulled out under his feet. I didn’t know what he needed…Hunt For Purpose was an answer to prayer. He was guided through a journey of self-identification, where he found his purpose and identity outside of the Army. He was not alone; he went through this journey with other brothers by his side…Instead of surviving, he was thriving. I can’t thank the team at WQW enough…It has drastically changed my husband’s life and our family’s life.”
PREPARING FOR EVEN MORE IMPACT IN 2023
In 2021 we crafted a vision for future programming that moves Warriors beyond healing to thriving. Throughout 2022, we conducted the research, consulted with the experts, and designed the framework of a new program model designed to accomplish that vision. Then we did the hard work to fill the framework with the resources, plans, content, and activities to deliver a one-of-a-kind program that will become our flagship program in 2023: Built for More.
Completely free to participants, Built for More merges the power of peak experiences in nature, the support of comrades, and the expertise of a proprietary personal growth process to guide veterans to their own definition of thriving. Over two transformative Fishing Experiences and a few months in evidence-based online content, veterans build a thriving life of their own design from the ground up. Uplifted by their small cohort of fellow Warriors and led by expert input, veterans systematically dismantle the things holding them back and develop new strengths to move themselves forward. Our first cohort of Warriors will begin the Built for More program in May 2023.
As always, the committed support of our donors, corporate sponsors, foundation partners, and volunteers made this all possible. Their support enabled WQW to raise the funds required to meet our yearly operating expenses. We are filled with gratitude for that support.
Thank you.
WARRIORS FIRST, ALWAYS.
Phil Uihlein
brian gilman
Board Chair, Board of Directors
Colonel, USMC (Ret.), Chief Executive Officer
our people
the community that makes it all happen
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Phil Uihlein, Chair
Tim Richmond
Ed Brandt, Treasurer
Aaron Demro, Secretary, US Army Veteran
Tom Stiffler, USMC Veteran
Jim Collins, Col, USMC (Ret.)
James T. Conway, Gen, USMC (Ret)
Jim McCray
Peter Nalen
Gregory Putnam, US Navy Veteran
Ali Ramirez, PT, DPT, US Navy Veteran
Sandy Stash
Dr. Kath Williams
Jonmichael Weaver, Boardroom Bobcat (2021-2022)
Travis Russell, Boardroom Bobcat (2022-2023) -
Tim Stultz, Chair, US Navy Veteran
Ryan Becker, Vice Chair
Paul Makarechian, Secretary
Greg Ellis
Aaron Flint, US Army
Eugene Graf, IV
Eric Hastings, Col, USMC (Ret.)
Bob King
Steve Langlas
Laura Linderman-Barker
Jim McCray
Matt McKenna
Eddie Merideth
Heather Nauert
Steve Newberry, US Navy Veteran
Chris Oliver, USMC Veteran
Ed Rutledge
Charley Snell, US Navy Veteran
AshLee Strong
Phil Uihlein, Chair
James Ulmer -
Brian Gilman, Chief Executive Officer, Col, USMC (Ret)
Mike Powell, Chief Operating Officer, LtCol, USMC (Ret)
Saul Martinez, Chief Program Officer, SGT, U.S. Army (Ret)
Chip Raybon, Chief Program and Strategy Officer, MGySgt, USMC (Ret)
Emily Sather, Chief Development Officer, CFRE
Audrey Chorak, Director of Program Operations
Casey Giles, Alumni Engagement Manager
James Hedges, Volunteer Manager
Justin Kreis, Administrative Assistant
Jesse LeNeve, Fishing Operations Manager
Ann Leuprecht, Corporate & Foundations Relations Manager, CFRE
Ryan Olson, Caretaker of Quiet Waters Ranch
Ellis Petrik, Development & Event Associate
Adam Remillard, Controller, CPA
Liz Shull, Annual Fund Manager
Stevie Thieme, Marketing Director
Onno Wieringa, Program Lead
Bryan Suchey, Spring Marketing Intern
Joey Winkler, Summer and Fall Marketing Intern -
Dropstone Outfitting
Bucks n Ducks Outfitters
RF Bar Outfitters
Driftline Outfitters
Montana Llama Guides
Upper Missouri River Guides
Riverside Anglers
Dixon Adventures
Nelson’s Guides & Flies
Secluded Waters
Montana Flyfishing Connections
6X Outfitters
Montana Bucks & Ducks -
Jordan Avery
Gary Behrent
Sean Blaine
Ryan Caldwell
Tony Follen
Al Gadoury
Sean Gifford
Whitney Gould
Grant Grigsby
Sky Jones
Jesse LeNeve
Tucker Nelson
Nelson’s Guides & Flies
Kara Schuett
Rodney Thurman
Onno Wieringa
PROGRAM BY THE NUMBERS
256
30
Number of programs
Number of partipants
1,606
146
Hours of programming
Days of programming
6,756
Meals served
delivering lasting outcomes for our warriors
2022 impact report
WQW partners with the Evaluation and Capacity Building team at the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University to help measure and communicate the impact of our programs. Below is a summary of our findings from our 2022 program season which demonstrates that for Warriors who participate in WQW, significant impact is felt across multiple outcomes related to well-being, nature, and relationships. Although the most dramatic effects are evident immediately following FX participation, the data indicates that some effects are sustained following participation.
PRE-FX AND POST-FX SURVEY RESULTS: FIRST-TIME WARRIOR PARTICIPANTS
3X DECREASE IN NERVOUSNESS AND STRESS
There was a 3.7x reduction in feeling nervous and stressed, with 44% of First- Time Warriors reporting after attending WQW that that they never or almost never felt nervous and stressed, compared to 12% before attending WQW.
1.6X IMPROVEMENT IN CALMNESS
There was a 1.6x improvement in calmness, with 47% of First-Time Warriors reporting after attending WQW that they were never or almost never angered because something was out of their control, compared to 18% before attending WQW.
1.8X IMPROVEMENT IN PURPOSE
There was a 1.8x improvement in sense of purpose, with 55% of First-Time Warriors reporting, after attending WQW, that they strongly agree that their sense of purpose continues to grow, compared to 30% before attending WQW.
2X IMPROVEMENT IN SLEEP
There was a 2x improvement in sleep, with 54% of First-Time Warriors reporting after attending WQW that they very often or fairly often had a good night’s sleep, compared to 18% before attending WQW.
1.9X IMPROVEMENT IN CLARITY
There was an 1.9x improvement in clarity about what a meaningful life is for them, with 55% of First-Time Warriors reporting after attending WQW that they strongly agree they continue to gain clarity about what a meaningful life is for them, compared to 30% before attending WQW.
1.6X NATURE
There was a 1.6x improvement in feeling nature helps them think clearly, with 90% of First-Time Warriors reporting after attending WQW that that they feel represented extremely well by the statement, “Nature creates a space where it is easier for me to think clearly,” compared to 55% before attending WQW.
2X IMPROVEMENT IN PROBLEM-SOLVING
There was a 2x improvement in problem-solving, with 27%of First-Time Warriors reporting after attending WQW that they very often felt confident about their ability to handle their personal problems, compared to 13% before attending WQW.
LONG TERM OUTCOMES
Year two of the evaluation project allowed the IVMF to compare results from participants’ earliest Pre-FX Survey to their 2022 Annual Survey results. In this analysis, the IVMF compared a participant’s 2022 Annual Survey response to their first recorded Pre-FX Survey, either from 2021 or 2022.
Across four of the five stress indicator questions, the IVMF found that participants felt less isolated, angry, nervous, and stressed, and were sleeping better. This result suggests that outcomes in these areas persist past immediate program participation, and that participants may be forming stronger relationships when they return home after program participation.
6x reduction in anger
There was a 6x decrease in feeling angered, with 16% of participants reporting before attending WQW that they were very often angered because something was out of their control, compared to after attending WQW.
2.5X reduction in nervousness and stress
There was a 2.5x reduction in feeling nervous and stressed, with 27% of participants reporting before attending WQW that they very often felt nervous and stressed, compared to 8% after attending WQW.
2x reduction in feeling isolated
Participants were half as likely to feel isolated, with 16% reporting before attending WQW that they very often felt isolated, compared to 8% after attending WQW.
1.5x improvement in sleep
There was a 1.5x improvement in sleep, with 33% of participants reporting after attending WQW that they very often or fairly often had a good night’s sleep, compared to 21% before attending WQW.
a letter from the
board treasurer
WQW entered 2022 with a detailed plan for growth – laser focused on positioning our program to increase its impact upon Warriors served. The 2022 budget was built to resource this growth – made possible by everyone who so generously invested in WQW’s mission.
Of 2022 Revenue, $140,000 was directed to the permanently restricted, program-focused Henry H. and Marion S. Uihlein Warrior Endowment. A portion of the $540,000 in new pledges was received in 2022. The remaining balance on these pledges will be paid over a series of years .
Now, more than two decades after 9/11, it’s more important than ever to enable veterans to find peace, meaning, and purpose after their military service. Your support makes this possible.
Figures are unaudited at the time of this publication’s printing. Numbers are rounded to the hundredth. If you would like more details on our financials, please contact the WQW office.
Ed Brandt, Treasurer
Revenue
In-Kind
$405,000
Endowment Withdrawals
$356,000
New Pledges
$540,000
Events
$838,000
General Contributions
$1,944,000
General Contributions
$1,944,000
Events
$838,000
New Pledges
$540,000
Endowment Withdrawals
$356,000
In-Kind
$405,000
Total: $4,083,000
expenses
Core Mission Support
$222,000
Core Mission Support
$898,000
Direct Program Expenses
$2,882,000
$2,882,000
Direct Program Expenses
Core Mission Support (Development and Donor Engagement)
$898,000
Core Mission Support (Finance, Human Resources, Administration)
$222,000
Total: $4,002,000
Warriors & Quiet Waters carries an opportunity to their participants in a way that can create a lifelong impact. I feel grateful to fuel their time in the outdoors as they discover what so many of us have found and love out there — healing, a quiet mind, and inspiration.
Shannon Waters, Founder of Gastro Gnome Meals, Donor